The lowly business card : we do not give it a second thought before we get the thing printed up, and we just do what everyone else does. A lot of men and women, new in company, get the business card printed before they are really willing to, which induces lots of the mistakes I record under. In both cases, new or experienced, we’re missing substantial opportunities to allow your business card take a number of their work off your shoulders. We might take it for granted, but I feel your business card is one of your most important pieces of marketing collateral, and the most under-utilized.

Here are my tips for ways to get your business card working as hard as you do. If you want to play together, pull out your business card and see if your card is guilty of some of those first four no-no’s.

1. Missing email address. Believe it or not, many of the cards that I receive via media meetings are missing email addresses. This is most common with new small business owners and individuals in the personal care business, but still, there’s no explanation.

2. An email address that ends with , , , or your ISP’s domain. Everybody in business for themselves must use their own domain (such as @). This is free promotion of your web site, so why are you advertisements Yahoo!, Comcast, or AOL instead of yourself? Advertising a free email account as your business email is just plain unprofessional.

3. Glossy cards you can’t write on. Okay, this is my pet peeve. Yes, you are able to receive these cards printed for free on the Internet. That sends a loud message that you don’t even have the money for business cards and that you do everything on the cheap. That isn’t what I want folks to consider my organization.

4. A web site address printed on the card that isn’t up yet. While I receive a business card from you, I am likely to see your web site to learn more. If it doesn’t come up, it tells me one of two things: you didn’t cover your hosting company or webmaster, or you haven’t gotten into that job yet. Both are poor messages to send.

Alright, how are you doing? These are extremely basic, so in the event that you’ve been in operation for a few decades, you’re probably doing well. So today let us inquire whether your business card looks like it’s from a small operation or a Fortune 500 business. How about these small business no-no’s?

5. Missing job title. Every business card must list your project title, particularly if you are President or CEO.

6. Photo of you personally. This is tell-tale little business. I disagree with a few people who believe that it helps during networking; you could visit the web site and see their image there. A picture takes up valuable card real estate and screams “self” It is just not the best thing to get on your card.

7. No logo. Every company needs a logo for branding its image.

8. Clip art. Your logo needs to be the sole art on your own card.

9. Weird shape. I don’t feel the best way to stand out is via odd colours or contour of your business card.

Today, let us get to what really matters: the promotion. Here are some items to think about that very few others do this will help your outcomes with prospects:

10. 1 phone number. Prospects can get confused as to what number to call. List just one, or make it clear when to call what amount. Don’t keep us guessing.

11. The company you’re in. If you said nothing and passed your business card over to a stranger and asked them exactly what business you are in, would they figure out it? Otherwise, neither can your prospect. Make sure your tag line or company name clearly describes the business you are in and if it doesn’t, you will want to add something in your card that does.

12. Things to do next. Get prospects in your funnel by telling them exactly what to do next directly on your own business card. Can they receive a free consultation? A free white paper? Make it clear on the card how they can sign up for another step to get to know you.

How would you do? I hope you passed, and should not, I see that a visit to your printer in your near future.